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Sacrifice. In softball parlance, it’s giving yourself up with a bunt to help another runner into scoring position.

For Valley View’s No. 2 hitter, it’s become a way of life.

Coming up through the Carbino Club ranks, Casey Pearce had her heart set on a pitching career. A shoulder injury set her back, and when it came time to move on to the high school team, future state Class AAA player of the year Gina Chieffallo had already established herself as the No. 1 pitcher.

So Pearce did what she’s become accustomed to doing. She sacrificed for the team, gave up on her hopes to be a pitcher and settled in as one of the best third basemen and most unselfish players her coach has ever had.

“Casey is the kid that I will be talking about to future teams to try to continue that team mentality,” Valley View coach E.J. Weston said. “She is the example that sets the standard for the type of player we expect to have on our team here at Valley View.”

Some players grudgingly will give up an at-bat. Pearce is asked to do it consistently, and it’s become almost a running joke between her and leadoff hitter Blayse Cholish.

“We actually joke about it,” Pearce laughed. “She’ll say, ‘When I get on, you don’t get a chance (to hit).’ I tell her, ‘Then hit the ball over the fence. That’s our only option.’ ”

Actually, Pearce gives Weston plenty of options.

A skilled bunter, Pearce can place the ball down either line, can slap it from the left side of the plate or pull the ball into the hole between first and second. She also has speed and line-drive power to the alleys, borne out by her five triples over the past two seasons.

Best of all, she doesn’t mind giving up her turn for the team.

“She’s often put in a position offensively to sacrifice her at bat for the sake of the team,” Weston said. “We preach family and what’s best for the team and we have been fortunate to have players like Casey lead by example.

“I don’t know that Casey knows how grateful I am as her coach to have such a phenomenal yet selfless player.”

As a sophomore, Pearce hit .431 with 25 hits and 22 runs in 20 games. Last year — called upon to bunt or pull balls to the right side to advance runners, her average dipped to .310, but her desire to win peaked as her team won the state Class AAA title.

“Last year was moreso the year that I sacrificed a lot, so it took me a while to get used to that,” Pearce said. “I was used to having the high average and a lot of hits. Once I got used to it, I was more comfortable. I think that’s what is helping this year.”

While bunting may be a lost art in baseball, for softball teams, a good short game is essential. Few work harder at their craft.

There definitely is a lot to it,” Pearce said. “When you’re hitting (away), if you like the pitch, swing at it. It’s like trusting your mechanics. But when pitchers know you’re going to be bunting, they’re going to try to throw junk at you, or a high pitch. Sometimes it’s hard to keep your hands up, but you just have to think about it.”

One of her early coaches, Paul Ross, father of Dunmore standout Sarah Ross, taught the lefty the basics of a push bunt. Weston showed her how to drag it down the first-base line. But she can also slap the ball to left or pull it through the hole between first and second.

“I think that’s another reason why coach puts me there in the lineup,” Pearce said. “They don’t really know what’s coming at them because I do have some power. I’m not a powerhouse, but I definitely can hit the ball. And I can lay down a bunt, and I have some speed, too, so that definitely helps out the team.”

Coming into the weekend, Pearce was hitting at a .412 clip, but like any good team player, she’d much rather talk about her work at the hot corner.

“I believe that defense wins games because you could score one run and still be able to win with that one run,” Pearce said.

That attitude is what makes Pearce, and her sacrifices, so valuable.

“Truth be told, Casey unselfishly has done so much for this program that many people don’t know,” Weston said. “She’s such a smart player and add to that her great skill at third base.

It has been an unbelievable four years with her at that position. We try to emphasize if you want your name in the paper, you have to win, because people follow winners.

“Casey’s name is not always in the paper but she is a major reason why we have been having success. And most impressive to me, she is not concerned about much more than getting her team a victory.”

Contact the writer:

mmyers@timesshamrock.com @mmyersTT on Twitter

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